By Calluna - 08/03/2016 15:26 - United States - Somerville

Today, I filed a client's tax return. His refunds alone were more than my gross annual salary. FML
I agree, your life sucks 20 325
You deserved it 1 729

Calluna tells us more.

Calluna 1

OP here. To clarify, I'm the secretary and the official number was over 7 times my salary. The client's case was indeed unique and not a regular event, but it didn't make me feel any better...especially considering that I can't afford my own apartment here in good old New Jersey.

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Top comments

adjwejaelwkdc 21

This is not going to be popular, but this is one accountant talking to another about professionalism. You will never be happy in accounting if you keep comparing your clients' income to your own income. I've worked for many high-wealth clients who make exponentially more than I ever have made or ever will make. I just simply don't know enough about them to make a judgment about whether this disparity is "fair." In my experience, it is the client's character that matters most. I'm perfectly happy to work for or with those people as long as they're nice. If they're total jerks, then I'll hand the work over to someone else or withdraw from the client. And if you think you deserve more than you're currently earning, then plan a way to ensure that you can earn more -- take classes, get certifications, get an MBA, etc. Take the frustration you're currently feeling and channel it toward improving your own lot in life.

198 5
Steve95401 49

Yet another example of the ever-widening gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots".

90 24

Comments

deltax 8

"Someone else is rich, and im not. fml". Sorry to make you feel bad, but most people aren't millionaires; your life doesn't suck.

9 1
RedCronos 17

Sometimes I wish life was a bit more unfair in my favor.

3 1
Scorpio1691 29

I feel your pain. I've definitely been there with some of my clients.

0 1
Goblin182 26

And that is why he needs an accountant.

0 1
Utetopia2014 18

Instead of this being an FML, this should be a "Good on him". And by him, I mean the client. Really. If he has done degrees, or an apprenticeship, works hard, is skilled, runs his own business, whatever to be able to earn that much to pay that much tax, then Good On Him. So may people now say "FML" instead of a "Well Done", or "Good On You". If you want to be that one that has someone say "Good On You" to, you're the only one that can make that happen. And that works for anything in life. We're the master of own destiny, and so many people need to stop blaming others.

0 0
SmittyJA24 26

1.). If his refund (ie, over-payment) for the past year was so high, perhaps you, as a professional, can recommend he reduce the amount he pays toward his 2016 taxes? 2.). The bottom line: don't compare yourself (or your income) to others. There will ALWAYS be those who have much more & those who have much less than you have. Always.

3 1
crackpotL 33

Aren't you biting the hand that feeds you?

1 2
Calluna 1

OP here. To clarify, I'm the secretary and the official number was over 7 times my salary. The client's case was indeed unique and not a regular event, but it didn't make me feel any better...especially considering that I can't afford my own apartment here in good old New Jersey.

32 2
mswim 27

Ah good 'ol Joisy. At least your not trying to pay for an apartment in New York. That would be real killer.

11 2
the_real_dvd 21

Would it be appropriate to ask what he actually paid in taxes vs what he got back?

7 1
Calluna 1

The wealthy client also paid a lot of tax. The circumstances just were that large estimates were required in 2015 and now the client is getting large refunds. I'm not saying anything negative about the client. Just the stark contrast in financial status struck me at that moment, highlighting for me my own situation.

9 2
kquals 8

I am not the most knowledgable about the world for accountants, but I suggest that you that the CPA and become a CPA. I know that it is a lot of work (my mother said she studied all day everyday for 3 months), but my mother said it is so much easier to get a job as a CPA instead of being a regular accountant. As I understand it, if you have a CPA, private practices and public offices will hire you.

0 1